Owen Coyle forced to halve Bolton wage bill

The Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, said yesterday that the relegated club would halve their wage bill for next season.

Gartside said he would look towards the academy, as a number of players are set to leave Owen Coyle's squad in the summer. "If you look at our wage bill this year compared to what it was last year, allowing for a couple of people to come in, it will be up to 50 per cent of what we paid out last year," Gartside said.

"That flexibility is essential when you are going to lose £25m of revenue."